EndoBreak: New Hirsutism Guidelines; Sub-Par Prison Diabetes Care

News and commentary from the endocrinology world

The Endocrine Society released an updated guideline for the evaluation and treatment of hirsutism in premenopausal women, in the first update since 2008. (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism)

The American Diabetes Association joined a class action lawsuit -- Civil Action No. 3:17-cv-00048 -- against the nation's second biggest private prison management company, CoreCivic. The lawsuit cites inadequate healthcare of inmates with diabetes, "which has led to levels of neglect that can legally be deemed cruel and unusual punishment."

Fiber may be the latest force in the fight against type 2 diabetes. "Our study lays the foundation and opens up the possibility that fibers targeting this group of gut bacteria could eventually become a major part of your diet and your treatment," said lead author Liping Zhao, PhD, of Rutgers University, in a statement. (Science)

A self-proclaimed "master herbalist/iridologist" in California was charged with practicing medicine without a license and child abuse causing a death, after attempting to treat a 13-year-old boy who had type 1 diabetes with herbal oils and allegedly instructing the parents to withhold insulin. The boy died. (CBS News)

Physicians may not have enough resources to identify and help avoid hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a new analysis. "While hypoglycemia is well recognized as a threat among people with type 1 diabetes and their healthcare providers, the danger it poses to people with type 2 diabetes is underappreciated," said the study's lead author, Robert Lash, MD, chief professional and clinical affairs officer of the Endocrine Society. More stringent A1c goals could unintentionally put patients at a greater risk of hypoglycemia, he added. (The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism)

Interpace Diagnostics announced this week their molecular thyroid tests, ThyGenX and ThyraMir -- both used to diagnose thyroid nodules -- are now covered under four Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans. (GenomeWeb)

Belly fat could put women at greater risk of developing anxiety, according to a new study. "Hormone changes may be involved in the development of both anxiety and abdominal obesity because of their roles in the brain as well as in fat distribution. This study provides valuable insights for healthcare providers treating middle-aged women, because it implies that waist-to-height ratio could be a good marker for evaluating patients for anxiety," commented North American Menopause Society executive director JoAnn Pinkerton, MD, in a statement. (Menopause)

Fighting childhood obesity can start as early as in utero, researchers suggested, who found that a high-fat, high-sugar diet during pregnancy may lead to the fetus developing a fatty liver. (The Journal of Physiology)

A man in Delaware was awarded $180,000 after a surgeon at Bayhealth Medical Center in Dover failed to remove all of the man's potentially cancerous thyroid, causing the man to subsequently undergo two additional surgeries. (Delaware Online)

Low-carb, low-fat, Mediterranean, and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets are all good for managing obesity according to the Endocrine Society's latest scientific statement. Authors of the statement recommend that the specific treatment approach for management of obesity should be individualized to fit the patient's unique needs, genetics, and adherence capability. (Endocrine Reviews)

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